BJP stashed money abroad before declaring financial emergency: Mayawati -Governance Now

BJP stashed money abroad before declaring financial emergency: Mayawati

BSP supremo launches scathing attacks on BJP on demonetization; says it has helped rich businessmen and capitalists

GN Bureau | November 10, 2016

#Narendra Modi #Rs1000 #Rs500 #demonetization #Mayawati #BSP

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati on Thursday criticised the Narendra Modi government for demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee currency notes. She alleged that the move, which amounted to “an undeclared state of financial emergency”, was taken after the BJP had “stashed enough money abroad to last it for 100 years”.

Mayawati, who faces BJP in Uttar Pradesh in coming election, alleged that the Modi government had favoured capitalists and rich businesses during its two-and-a-half year tenure and ensured that the BJP collected enough funds [from them]. “The party raised enough funds to secure its future and to sail through for next 100 years,” she said.

She said the government had deliberately announced the monetization scheme and projected it as a move against black money on the eve of UP election while it has actually hurt the poor, working class and the middle class hard. “The common man is saying this,” she said.

Continuing her angry outburst against the Modi government and the BJP, Mayawati alleged that the announcement of banning currency notes of 500 and 100 denominations with a three hour notice was a ploy to further help the businesses and extort money from them. She claimed that during this period petrol pumps had fleeced customers and refused to return change or forced motorists to take fuel worth Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes they were carrying.

“The window period was deliberate; the BJP was in league with the petrol pumps and took its share of booty,” she claimed.

The BSP leader alleged the move had created panic among the poor, farmers, workers and middle class people, who would keep their savings at home and not in banks. “The announcement made people run to ATMs, petrol pumps and be on the roads as if some earthquake had struck.”

Mayawati also took personal digs at Narendra Modi, alleging that contrary to his claim of being born in a backward caste the prime minister hailed from an upper caste. She said he had later included his community in the backward category to help its members gain jobs and admissions.

“He flaunts his status of being born poor to win votes and sympathy but in reality, this [monetization] shows that he has no empathy for them.”

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